San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-13
which he had been assured was intended
for his sitting-room.

which he had been assured was intended
for his sitting-room.
"You have determined then to punish
me, Miss Kennedy" he asked playfully,
with the frank smile that was so much
more becoming to him than all his Edgar
ofRavenswood airs.
Sisyl stared. with ey ebrows lifted. not
understanding; then as she followed his
glance, she saw what he meant, and smiled
back as frankly,
'Oh, yesT she said. AT least, / don't
mean that want TO punish you-that is
only your way Of talking isn't itf But /
have taken them out of your way, and
given them to Percival."
To Percival! Mark was conscious Of
some disgust. Was there actually one Of
''the boys" still at the RectoryH He had
understood, distinctly understood, that he
would be alone there with Mr. Lansing.
This was too badl
Sibyl was eating her supper with evil
dent enjoyment, and trying to tempt Lady
Anna with various dishes. Mr.. Lansing
began to talk in precise, old voice, to
Mark about his father. Lady Anna had
relapsed into one of her reveries, and sat
leaning her chin on one hand and playing
with her fork. Mark had ample opportu-
nifty to observe Sibyrs unembarrassed
manner Of satisfying her appetite under
his very eyes-a situation that had been
known to futter more experienced dam
sels-and to see that Percival's chair re-
manned empty during the entire meal, to
his malicious satisfaction.
"The 'other boys are sometimes guilty
Of ingratitude, see, Miss Kennedy" he
remarked when Mr. Lansings stream of
"reminiscences had at length ceased to
flow.
Sibyl stared again with her serious
brown eyes. She could not understand
why Mr.. Breton should harp so persist
ly on one string. especially as he did not
care for flowers
"Do you mean Percivalf' she asked |;
and then she turned face full Of sweet
understanding to her aunt, and laid her
cheek softly for an instant against Lady
Annals arm. "Percival is there though
you cannot see him, Mr.. Breton. 1t is
only through aunt Annals spectacles or
mine that he is visible at Rookwoodw
Poor Mark stared in his turn. He was
not poetical, though he had been SO often
in love. Lady Anna smiled at his puz-
zled look.
"Don't mind this madcap," sh said
kindly. at is only some of Sibyps nom
sense. Percival is in India" And the
mother sighed now. "What lovely
evening, Mr.. Breton is it notf"
The moon was rising, and whitley
touched the diamond panes of the incur
tanned window. The green hues Of
the sunset had not yet faded from the
western sky, but were picturesquely
blending with the early moonlight; and
the poplars stood black against the sweet
half-tones, casting their shadows across
the grass.
Sibyl had sprung up to look out Of the
window. 1t was very mild weather for
the time of the year. Even Mr.. Lansing
was not afraid of the evening air.
81 will go and say good night to the
pigeons" she said, though Lady Anna
called soft warning after her as she ran
out bareheaded.
Mark too had stood up; and he follow
ed Lady Anna now to the window. Mr..
Lansing was ordering lights to be brought
into the study.
"You are not going to work this even
ing2' his wife said to young BRETON
"No, of course not. Then pray 60 and
tell Sibyl from me to put on her hat, and
see that she does not stop out longer than
half an hour, Mr.. Breton; it is growing
chilly"
Mark obeyed. marvelling more and
more, not that this pretty fawn like girl
should be thrown at his head-young as
he was, this had happened to him before,
and he knew, though not more conceited
than most young men, that it was what he
would have to expect as long as he re-
manned single-but that LadyAnna should
conduct her manevres with such COM
plete want Of tact.
at is enough to undo whatever effect
the girls beauty might produce, by
George" the young man reflected as he
found his own hat, and very shabby
one which looked as if it must be Sibyps,
and was lying on the floor in the hall. ~
only wish the governor knew, though, in
to what dangerous quarters he had sent
his unsuspecting son and heir. His face
would be study by Jovel I can't say
that object to the situation myself. Any
thing to drown thought, and blot that
that marble heart from my memory for
everr
He stepped out into the blended twi-
light and moonlight of the tender April
evening, and went obediently in search Of
Sibyl,